Bitless hackamore



Feb. 23, 1954 A. PLETSCH 2,669,816

BITLESS HACKAMORE Filed Sept. 22, 1952 Adam P/efsc/r INVEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES start PATNT 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in hackamores.

One object of the invention lies in the provision of a bitless hackamore with which one may expeditiously and humanely train horses, particularly breaking in colts, as well as to effectively control trained horses.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a bitless hackarnore which is so con-- Structed as to lend itself for easy attachment to any. head stall.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a bitless hackamore which is constructed with a minimum number of parts and thus adaptable to economical manufacture.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of a hackamore which very effectively controls a horse yet which is constructed to preclude any metal touching the animal and thus eliminating the possibility of injury to the horse.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved hackamore and showing related portions of a head stall and a horses nose by dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section taken through the lever and related pressure pad; and

Figure 3 is a transverse cross section taken as at line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings thenumeral 5 indicates a lJ-shaped nose band formed from a strip of metal 6 bent back upon itself at the ends thereof to form trans versely disposed sleeves l. A supporting strip of leather it which is somewhat wider than the metal strip is secured in face to face engagement on the inner face of the metal strip as by rivets 9. Over the supporting leather 8 and disposed to contact the .horses nose, I have adheringly secured strip of sheep skin it! having the wool disposed inwardly. It will be understood that any suitable adhering means will be acceptable and also other cushioning means such as felt or foam rubber may be used. However, for the utmost in comfort for the horse I prefer sheep skin which permits limited air circulation between the contacting cushion and the horses nose.

Engaged in the sleeves l are rings l i which are square in plan and will be hereafter referred to as squares to comply with the nomenclature of horsemen. The cheek straps it of a head stall are secured in the squares ii and properly support the nose band on the horses nose. Also secured in the squares ll are adjustable loop straps it which are provided each with a buckle it at one end, and the free end is passed through its co operating square and buckled by its buckle it.

The oppose-d ends of the looped straps Iii each encircle one of a pair of spaced depending arms it which form parts of a lever it having a shaft ii at right angles to and uniting the upper ends of the arms I5. EStaples IE form keepers for the straps and confine them at a fixed location longitudinally of the arms I5.

Each arm is provided with a depending rear wardly angled extension l9 which terminates in a rearwardly disposed horizontal terminal portion till. In the terminal portions vertically disposed holes 2! are formed and rings 32 are loosely mounted therein for receiving and securing the forward ends of reins 23. When reins are pulled rearwardly by the rider, the lower ends of the arms are moved and the crank pivots at the fulcrum where straps l3 encircle arms It, thus causing shaft ii to move forwardly and because of the greater length of the arms and on tensions l5 and i9 below the fulcrum, a lesser forward movement is supplied at the shaft ll, but greatly increased pressure is supplied.

To prevent the shaft H from touching and possibly injuring the horses jaw, I have provided a pressure plate, indicated in general by the numeral 24. A sleeve 25 is loosely applied to the shaft to permit rotation thereof and a longi tudinally arcuate or outwardly bowed metal plate 26 is secured thereon as by welding or other suitable means.

A leather patch 27! is secured in covering rela tion to the inner face of said plate and is somewhat larger in plan than the plate. Adheringly secured over the inner face of the patch il'i is a cushion shown to be felt, but which may be other suitable material having the desired body consistency and firmness.

An aperture 29 is formed through the plate, patch and cushion midway the width thereof and adjacent the upper edge of plate to.

A supporting strap Sliextends through the aperture 29 and is buckled to itself by means of buckle 31 after having been passed about the head stall. throat latch The pressure plate 2 5 being pivotally mounted. permits the cushion at to assume any angle necessary to conform to the shape of the horses jaw upon which the hackamore is mounted for the time being. Since no metal engages the horse, the liability of injuring the horse is eliminated, yet suflicient pressure may be applied to properly control or train a colt or horse.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A bitless hackamore for use with a head stall having check strap and a throat latch comprising a metal U-shaped nose band, a leather supporting strip secured to the nose band on its inner face, said strip being of a greater Width than said band, a resilient material adheringly secured in face to face relation with the inner face of said supporting strip, transversely disposed securing sleeves one at each end of said nose band, squares one engaged in each sleeve, adjustable looped straps engaged through said squares, said cheek straps being engaged through said squares for supporting said nose band, a U-shaped lever having a shaft and spaced depending arms on the ends of the shaft and at right angles thereto, said arms extending intermediate their ends one through each said looped straps, staples in said arms and forming keepers for said straps, extensions on said arms and depending at a rearward incline and terminating in rearwardly disposed horizontal terminal portions, diametrically disposed vertical holes in said terminal portions, rein securing rings loosely engaged in said holes, a sleeve rotatably carried about said shaft, a plate carried by said sleev and outwardly bowed longitudinally thereof, a leather supporting patch secured on the inner face of said plate, a resilient cushion adheringly secured on said patch and dis posed to contact the horse's lower jaw, an aperture extending through said plate, patch and cushion, and an adjustable supporting strap engaged through said aperture and adapted to engage said throat latch.

2. In a bitless hackamore, the combination with a nose band adapted to be supported by a head stall, straps on the nose band, a lever carried by said straps and adapted to receive reins at one end, said straps forming a fulcrum for said lever, whereby pull on said reins causes the lever to pivot, of a pressure pad pivotally carried by said lever at the other end of said lever and spaced from the fulcrum and adapted to apply pressure to a horses jaw when the reins are pulled rearwardly.

3. In a bitless hackamore, the combination with a supporting harness, of a lever fulcrumed on said harness rearwardly of a horses jaw and being adapted to receive reins at its lower end, and a pressure pad pivotally carried by said lever at the other end of said lever and spaced from the fulcrum and adapted to apply pressure to the horses jaw when the reins are pulled rearwardly.

ADAM PLETSCH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 77,317 Pope Apr. 28, 1868 ,015,165 Fox Jan. 16, 1912 1,084,891 McMillan Jan. 20, 1914 2,041,620 Stephens May 19, 1936 2,625,780 Flatt Jan. 20, 1953 2,630,660 Thomas Mar. 10, 1953 

